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Don't overlook these veterans in September

Lost in all the hype and attention given to September callups is that they often fail to live up to expectations. Instead, one might find more bang for the buck is with veterans who have fallen out of favor.

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Don't overlook these veterans in September

Greg Pyron, BaseballHQ.com
2:48 p.m. EDT September 5, 2013

Padres outfielder Will Venable is one of five major leaguers with 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases this season. He has improved his average against left-handed pitching as well.(Photo: Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

Padres OF Will Venable is one of five players this season with at least 20 homers and 15 steals

Matt Joyce of the Rays has shaken off a June/July slump to hit .350 with three homers in August

Emilio Bonifacio has as many steals since his Aug. 14 trade to the Royals as he did in Toronto

It seems as though fantasy baseball owners approach September every year with an eagerness that rivals that of a child desperately waiting to unwrap a birthday gift. Competitors always want to see and learn more about the next big thing. In this case, that means the September rookie call-ups.

Lost in all the hype and attention given to these young prospects is that they often fail to live up to expectations.

Instead, where one might find more bang for the buck is with veteran players who have fallen out of favor or otherwise been forgotten.

As roles change and some teams are playing out the string, sometimes these veterans gain low-pressure playing time, thrive and become fantasy assets in the most important month of the year.

In that light, here are eight overlooked veteran hitters who could be poised to have a strong September.

OF Will Venable, San Diego Padres

Venable doesn't receive the the type of attention his play deserves. He is one of five players this season with at least 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases — the others are Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Gonzalez, Mike Trout and Ian Desmond.

His plate discipline is less than ideal (23 walks vs. 96 strikeouts in 397 at-bats), but it's tough to argue with a .275 batting average, along with those 20home runs and 15 steals.

Left-handed pitching has given him fits in the past, but he has shown significant improvement this season, hitting .276 with six home runs and 14RBI in 87 at-bats against them.

OF Matt Joyce, Tampa Bay Rays

The 29-year-old has been streaky, slugging 10 home runs with 25 RBI and four stolen bases in the season's first two months — only to struggle through June and July (.215, four home runs, eight RBI in 149 at-bats).

He seems to be heating up again after batting .350/3/11 in 60 August at-bats. Keep in mind that Joyce usually sits against left-handed pitching, but he will be in the lineup most days and could be in for a big final month.

1B-OF Brandon Moss, Oakland Athletics

There is no denying the power of this 29-year-old. After bashing 21 home runs in 265 at-bats a year ago, he had 25 home runs in 383 at-bats through the end of August. Granted, 28% of his plate appearances end in a strikeout, but he tends to make the most of the occasions when he makes contact.

His struggles against left-handers mean he typically doesn't face them, but he has made up for that by crushing right-handed pitching to the tune of a .259 batting average with 21 home runs in 316 at-bats.

He will try to carry his torrid August (.288 with eight home runs, 19 RBI and 1.015 on-base-plus slugging percentage in 80 at-bats) into September.

OF-1B Michael Morse, Baltimore Orioles

Injuries hampered him for much of the season, limiting him to 283 at-bats in 76 games with the Seattle Mariners. Still, he managed to hit 13 home runs, albeit with a .226 batting average. Indications are that he is healthy, and the Aug. 30 trade that sent him from Seattle's pitcher-friendly ballpark to Baltimore's hitter-friendly ballpark could help fuel a rebound in the season's final month.

Though Morse has seen most of his playing time this season in right field, the Orioles figure to use him at designated hitter, so that could increase the chances of him staying healthy down the stretch.

1B Brett Wallace, Houston Astros

The 13th overall pick in the 2008 amateur draft has not panned out the way many had hoped. Now 27, he has finally carved out a regular place in the Astros lineup, though the left-handed hitter continues to have a difficult time hitting southpaws (.154, one home run and 27 strikeouts in 52 at bats vs. lefties).

Overall, he has struck out in 37% of his plate appearances this season and mustered a .226 batting average. The bright spot in his game has been his power, with 11 home runs and 25 RBI in 165 at-bats in July and August. Despite the flaws in his game, he could help a team in need of power down the stretch, provided you can stomach the batting average.

OF Michael Saunders, Seattle Mariners

The 26-year-old's combination of power and speed was on display in 2012, when he hit 19 home runs and swiped 21 bases in his first full major league season. Saunders has tried to be more selective at the plate this year, raising his walk rate from 8% to 12%, but his strikeout rate has climbed slightly from 24% to 25%.

He has further refined his approach since the All-Star break, increasing his walk rate by 3% and reducing his strikeout rate by 4%. Over that stretch, he has hit .252 with four home runs, 15 RBI and two stolen bases in 103 at-bats.

2B-OF Emilio Bonifacio, Kansas City Royals

An atrocious .258 OBP and 12 stolen bases in 94 games with the Blue Jays did not help him win over many folks in Toronto. However, he has played well since the Aug. 14 trade to Kansas City. In 18 games, he has produced a .297/.384/.406 slash line with 11 stolen bases.

It's possible he could lose a little playing time once Lorenzo Cain returns from the disabled list, but as long as Bonifacio continues to play well, the Royals likely will find a way to keep him in the lineup, whether it's at second base, in the outfield or possibly even at third base.

OF Eric Young Jr., New York Mets

In 64 games with the Mets, he has posted a .261 batting average and 26stolen bases. An improved batting eye has aided him to post a .330 on-base percentage over that span.

He has outstanding speed, so as long as he can continue to reach base at a solid clip, the stolen bases should continue.

The Mets acquired him to fill a hole at the leadoff spot, and the 28-year-old has given them a spark in that department, particularly with his base-stealing ability.